The Two Faces of January

Thriller set in the early '60s, adapted from the novel by Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley). A glamorous American couple - the charismatic Chester (Viggo Mortensen) and his alluring wife Colette (Kirsten Dunst) - are touring Greece and befriend local conman, Rydal (Oscar Isaac). Drawn to Colette's beauty and impressed by Chester's sophistication, Rydal becomes infatuated with the pair but starts to see darker secrets behind their affable exteriors. Adapted for the screen by Hossein Amini, screenwriter of Drive.

When Rydal visits the couple at their hotel, Chester presses him to help move the body of a seemingly unconscious man who he claims attacked him. In the moment, Rydal agrees but as events take a more sinister turn he finds himself ensnared in circumstances and unable to pull himself free. Rydal's obvious attraction to Colette gives rise to Chester's paranoia, leading to a dangerous battle of wits.

Reviews & comments

Crime writer Patricia Highsmith’s work has lent itself to several notable cinematic adaptations, and two of the best-known - Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley - are both masterclass examples of the thriller genre. Unlikely to join their esteemed company is The Two Faces of January, the latest Highsmith novel to hit the big screen.

'Two Faces...' was reasonably good pace and interest, but not what I would classify as riveting. Somewhat disappointing for that reaspn, as I had anticipated a degree more tension and tightness to the story.
Viggo Mortensen excellent in his role, but the disadvantage of that was the others didn't appear to present with the same depth.
Pleasant, woth...

A movie that hums along with a twist or two, and the scenery is interesting! Never boring, it holds you right till the end. I enjoyed it as good entertainment. The character who was shot in the back would have died from lung cancer anyway -- watch the movie to see what I mean!

4.0

Variety

press

Expertly blends touches of Hitchcock and Highsmith in this seductive, southern Europe-set suspenser.

Since the film is entirely built around a trio of greedy, lying, vapid losers, it’s unlikely that [this] is going to knock The Talented Mr. Ripley from its pedestal in the Highsmith pantheon, or even jar it slightly.

Crime writer Patricia Highsmith’s work has lent itself to several notable cinematic adaptations, and two of the best-known - Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train, Anthony Minghella’s The Talented Mr. Ripley - are both masterclass examples of the thriller genre. Unlikely to join their esteemed company is The Two Faces of January, the latest Highsmith novel to hit the big screen.

3.0

Variety

press

Expertly blends touches of Hitchcock and Highsmith in this seductive, southern Europe-set suspenser.

Since the film is entirely built around a trio of greedy, lying, vapid losers, it’s unlikely that [this] is going to knock The Talented Mr. Ripley from its pedestal in the Highsmith pantheon, or even jar it slightly.

'Two Faces...' was reasonably good pace and interest, but not what I would classify as riveting. Somewhat disappointing for that reaspn, as I had anticipated a degree more tension and tightness to the story.
Viggo Mortensen excellent in his role, but the disadvantage of that was the others didn't appear to present with the same depth.
Pleasant, woth...

A movie that hums along with a twist or two, and the scenery is interesting! Never boring, it holds you right till the end. I enjoyed it as good entertainment. The character who was shot in the back would have died from lung cancer anyway -- watch the movie to see what I mean!